The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-09-04
PORES Try.
Address Esliver,d ~ Prof. hyars
Before tho State Teachers
Ass OelAtiOU.

The following address on For
estry' was delivered by Prof. Byars
before the State Teachers Associa'
ton, recently in session at Jackson,
Tenn:
I'm casting my eyes over this au-
gus, assembly, | seem 10 see before
mo the collected wisdom OF great
State; for the teachers are emphati-
cally the thinking men Of our State,
who, more than other men, hold in
their hands its future destiny. The
Department OF Agriculture recogniy-
ing this truth, is now invoking the
influence of teachers everywhere as a
most potent aid in the important
work OF forest conservation.
1T is now generally accepted
truth, that it is essential TO the fer
tility OF a country that part OF its
surface be kept covered with forests.
A region in which a part Of the sur
face is kept covered with forests
properly distributed, will yield larger
crops OF cereals and other agricul-
tural products than il the whole sur
face were dcnuded Of its trees and
subjected to the most skilltul oultiva-
ton. This proportion varies: In q
region, for instance, surrounded and
intersperscd with lakes, smaller
forest area would produce climatic
effects that it would require larger
area TO produce under other circum.
stances. About one.iourth of the
total area has been estimated as the
proper proportion for the South.
While, then, the interests OF agrioul.
turc demand that the surplus above
one. fourth be cleared aud subjected
TO cultivation, il is essential TO those
interests that one-iourth Of the total
area be kept covered with forests
for the FAKE of their climatic effects.
I'VE can but admire the wisdom Of
that ar-seeing statesman, Colbert,
minister OF Louis XIV, of France,
and author OF the celebrated Forestry
Ordinance of 1869, who, observing
that countries OF Asia and Africa,
once fertile, had been cou-
yerted into arid wastes by
having been dcnuded OF their
forests uttered that Oft quoted say
log, la France perla Gu iaute des
bois.' France will perish Tor lack
of woods, and by that ordinance
OF 1869 arrested the d struction OF
the woods, aud saved France IRON
becoming the rid waste that Pales.
tine aud other formerly fruitful
countries OF Asia now are. This say
ing should be rupg into the ears OF
every .outhern statesman, the South
will perish for the want OF woods,
10 order that measures may be taken
Tor the conservation, while yet II
possesses that proportion OF one
fourth OF its surface m forests. IL
should be the effort Of every State
still possessing that proportion to
preserve IL, aud OF States not possess
ing that proportion TO supply
il by forest planting. Preyi-
Gus TO the ordidancc oil 1863 the
method OF exploitation IN the forests
OF France was very much like that IL
our country az this time but by that
ordinance the forests II France wer,
divided into number OF compart
mcnts, each in its turn 10 be divesteC
OF its trees, except fixed number
sixteen 10 each arpont 10 be left foI
seed, so that the timber might grow
up again add DO large enough Tor use
on the FIRST compartment by the time
that on the last compartment should
be cut Of. An improvement on this
system il still in use in France and
other countries of the continent, and
los Justice rests on the maxim Sic
utere tue ut alinm non iniurias. SO
use your own that you injurc not an
other, or, in other words, YOU have
20 right 10 cut all the woods OIL OF
your land when by M doing you ren.
der my land unproductiyc, aud dry
up my springs aud wells. \ law
that would be just in tn
paternal governments OF continent
al Europe would be iuconsis-
tent with the genius Of our govern
mcnt, where our law makers are not
our fathers, but our servants, bound
10 obey our constitutional commands,
aud sworn 10 disubcy such rs are un-
constitutional. LEGISLATION in our
country may encourage the land
owners 20 preserve that proportion
a forest area essential TO the ierlili.
~ of the country, whilo IL would be
Inconsistent with the genius OF our
government 10 require them TO do 80.
The land owner who preserves and
carefully guards the adequate pro-
norton Of his forest laud, or when
that proportion is wanting, supplies
the deficiency by forest planting
thereby benefits the whole country
more than he benefits himself, and
therefore IL il Just that laBd 30 re.
served, or land planted IA forest
should be exempt from taxation, and
Law creating such exemption
would do much TO encourage forest
conservation.
Had the climatic influence o.
forests been understood ia Tennessee,
fifty years ago, many thousand acre,
Of mountain woodlands then offered
for sale by the State at nomina
price, would have been retained ant
| kent covered with forests for thei
CLIMATIC effects on the fertility ol tn
country. Tho greater part OF thos
mountain woodlands are now hro'
and burned over every year Tor th'
purpose OF destroying the ialleI
leaves aud underground, that tn
grass NAV grow for tho cattle. !
this underground, which woul'
grow into trees 10 replace the exist
ing timber, be- destroyed, the land
will be naked when the presen
forest growth ia exhausted. As a.
evidence OF the rapidiiy with whic.
our forests are being exhausted
take ono county, White, Tor In
stance. According 10 the report q
Mr.. w. N. Billngsly, the Suporin
tendcnt OF Public Instruction TO
White county, there arc IN Whit
county sixty three saw mills that GU
annually 10 900 900 feet oi lumbci
ALLOWING 5000 feft 10 the acre, thos
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